The band was formed in 1981 when vocalist Stuart "Snake" Neale (26 April 1963 – 20 December 2006), guitarist Nigel Evans, and keyboard player Jem Davies from the Bedford-based band, Stranger, joined forces with guitarist Mick Newman, bassist Steve Woodward and drummer Allan Vallance.
Although the band came to the fore during the tail-end of the new wave of British heavy metal movement, their sound was more melodic and polished.
Tobruk tried to soldier on and recorded some demos with ex-The Alliance vocalist, Tony Martin, but nothing came of it and the band split for good.
Mike Brown played bass in a short-lived band with Alan Kelly (drummer, ex-Shy) called Why The Rabbit shortly after Tobruk broke up.
Jem Davis and Fincher started the band Midnight Blue with one-time Yngwie Malmsteen and Rainbow singer Doogie White and recorded Take The Money and Run circa 1994.
Phoenix Music re-issued a Tobruk retrospective in 2001 with rare tracks and video footage, called Recaptured.